Swinging door construction



July 18, 1967 1 B. J. COOKE ETAL. 3,331,159

SWINGING DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed April 23, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I

INVENTORS BILLY J. COOKE JASPER F. M COY y 1967 B. J. COOKE ETAL SWINGING DOOR CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23, 1965 JNVENTORS BILLY J. COOKE JASPER F. M COY F IG. 2

July 18, 1967 a. J. COOKE ETAL SWINGING DOOR CONSTRUCTION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 23, 1965 w om m INVENTORS BILLY J. COOKE JASPER F. M COY ATTORNEY United States Patent Cfiice 3,331,159 Patented July 18, 1967 3,331,159 SWINGING DOOR CONSTRUCTION Billy J. Cooke and Jasper F. McCoy, Waxahachie, Tex., assignors to Clark Equipment Company, a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 450,435 12 Claims. (Cl. 49-371) The present invention relates to a swinging door construction, and more particularly to such a construction employing a series of swinging doors to allow access to a room or enclosed space through a common substantially uninterrupted opening.

In constructions employing a plurality of doors to allow access to a greater area than may conveniently be provided by a single door, swinging doors have the advantage that each will allow access to a portion of such area without blocking access through another door, as ordinarily would be the case if sliding doors were employed. Sliding doors, on the other hand, lend themselves to easy installation and removal or replacement. In the present construction, provision is made for similarly removing or inserting a swinging door in a simple manner when deslred. In providing a door frame structure for an openmg of such size as to require a plurality of doors, it is advantageous to eliminate vertical frame members or mullions intermediate the vertical end frame members, so as to avoid interference with access to the enclosed area. It is also desirable to provide means to impart to the frame the strength and rigidity to prevent sagging or warping. At the same time, if mullions or intermediate vertical members are eliminated from the framing, they cannot be located so as to be engaged by the doors in closed condition, and therefore cannot carry gaskets to effect sealing of the doors, and some other manner of gasketing must be employed. The swinging door construction of this invention avoids unnecessary intermediate vertical framing members, while providing the desired strength and rigidity of the frame and a novel gasketing arrangement which does not require the presence of vertical frame members engageable by the door edges. Means for limiting opening movement of the doors without shock should be employed to lengthen the life of the structure, and preferably such means should be readily locatable at any point along the frame according to the number and widths of the doors.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a swinging door construction in which a plurality of doors afford access to an enclosed space with a minimum of interference or obstruction, and with easy insertion and removal of the doors, while maintaining effective sealing of the doors and providing for cushioned limitation of door opening movement.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a swinging door construction employing a door frame structure having vertical frame members spaced apart sufiiciently to accommodate a plurality of doors therebetween, without intermediate vertical frame members, while providing for the desired strength and rigidity of frame structure and allowing maximum unobstructed access to the space enclosed by the doors.

Another object is the provision of a swinging door construction having a plurality of doors mounted in a frame structure eliminating at least certain of the vertical frame members against which the doors might sealingly engage, while providing for eflective sealing of the doors in closed position.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a swinging door construction providing for simple and easy mounting of a door to swing about a vertical pivot axis in a door frame structure, and equally simple and easy removal of the door from the frame structure.

Another object is the provision of a swinging door construction including a door frame structure employing a minimum of vertical frame members or mullions while obtaining desired strength and rigidity of the frame structure by use in vertical framing position of elements required in the construction in any event.

Another object is the provision of a swinging door construction including a door frame structure adapted for cooperation with the mounting means for support of a door snubber device regardless of the door location.

A further object is the provision of a door construction including a door mount serving also to locate a snubber device for the door.

Other and further objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a swinging door construction according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged broken vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line 22 of FIG. 1, certain parts being omitted for clearness;

FIGURE 3 is a broken horizontal sectional view through the doors and vertical frame members of a construction such as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the mount for an upper pivot pin for a door according to the invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a reduced fragmentary plan view of a pair of doors and the relationship of a door snubber to the pivot axis and mount of one of the doors.

Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a portion of a swinging door construction according to the invention, comprising a door frame generally indicated as 10, framing a rectangular door opening in a partition P which extends between a floor F and a roof or ceiling, not shown. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the door frame 10 comprises upper and lower horizontal door frame members 11 and 12, respectively, and vertical end frame members 13 and 14 connecting the frame members 11 and 12 at the opposite ends thereof. The frame members may conveniently be extrusions of aluminum or the like. A plurality of doors, generally designated 15, are swingably or hingedly mounted in the door frame 10, each on a vertical axis defined by the pivot means hereinafter described. The doors are arranged in side-by-side relation, with the free edge of one disposed adjacent the hinged edge of the next in closed position, except that one of the end doors has its free edge adjacent one vertical end frame member, and the other end door has its hinged edge disposed adjacent the other vertical frame member. In the construction illustrated, all of the doors swing to the left in opening, but it will be understood that this is not necessary in all applications of the invention. The invention is disclosed as employed in a refrigerated room or walk-in cooler from which articles may be removed upon opening the doors, being replenished from the interior of the room, to which access is provided by a suitable entrance door, not shown. Of course, the construction may be employed with any enclosed area to which access is to be provided by swinging doors.

Each door 15 is shown as formed panels 16 arranged with an air space therebetween and mounted in a frame comprising upper and lower rails 17 connected by stiles 18, the rails and stiles being provided with channel formations to receive the edges of the glass panels. An edge seal 19 of any suitable material and conformation, such as shown in FIG. 3, may be disposed between the glass panels and the rails and stiles. The rails and stiles, like the frame members, may be formed as extrusions of aluminum or other appropriate material which is non-magnetic. To afford proper sealing engagement of of a pair of glass the magnetic gaskets provided as hereinafter explained, strips 20 of any suitable magnetic material are mounted on the faces of the rails 17 which extend along the inner faces of the doors 15.

In the lower end of one stile of each door, which may be termed the pivot stile, there is mounted for relative rotation a lower pivot pin 21 having a lower portion 22 projecting downwardly below the bottom of the door and including a collar-like capstan portion 23 having a number of radially extending holes therein for reception of a suitable tool by which the lower pivot pin 21 may be rotated for adjusting the force of a door-closing spring if such be provided. The upper portion of the pivot pin 21 extends through a suitable oil-impregnated bearing 25 which has a flange extending between the bottom of the door and the capstan 23. Each door 15 is provided with a torsion rod 26 serving as a spring for returning the door to closed position when it has been opened. The rod 26 extends substantially vertically in the pivot stile, with its upper end bent horizontally to engage over a screw 27 extending through the stile and preventing downward movement of the rod. The lower end of the rod is suitably engaged with the pivot pin 21 to provide for torsional stressing of the rod upon rotation of the pin. Such engagement of the torsion rod with the pivot pin is shown as provided by forming at least the lower rod portion of square cross section, with the lower rod end engaged in a correspondingly shaped socket recess in the upper end of the pivot pin. With the door in place in the door frame 10, the pin 21 is turned by means of a suitable tool engaged with the capstan 23, thus applying torque to the rod 26. When the desired degree or torque has been achieved, the pin 21 is secured against rotation under the force of the torsion rod in any desired manner. The means shown for this purpose in the drawings comprises a pin 28 which is engageable in one of the recesses 24 of the capstan, to extend radially outwardly therefrom into engagement with a stop 29 in the form of a stud or like member threadedly or otherwise mounted on the lower frame member 12, as shown in FIG. 2. The pin 28 may instead be engaged with an upwardly extending portion of the lower frame member 12. The pin 21 is shown as journaled in a channel 30 extending longitudinally of the stile 18 having a cross section providing a cylindrical surface of such circumferential area and on such a radius that the bearing 25 is received and retained in the channel, as best shown in FIG. 3.

At the upper end of the dor, a bushing 32 of nylon or other suitable material is frictionally or otherwise secured in the upper end of the cylindrical-surfaced channel 30 of the pivot stile 18, for receiving in journaled relation the upper pivot pin hereinafter described. Secured on the upper end of the pivot stile in any suitable manner is a plate 33 which is apertured to receive the upper end of the bushing 32 projecting upwardly, and has a portion extending outwardly beyond the adjacent vertical edge of the door to define a bumper arm 34, which is offset upwardly so as to clear the top of the adjacent door. A heater wire 35 extends about the periphery of the glass panels 16, adjacent the outer faces of the rails and stiles, to prevent condensation deposit and frosting about the edges of the outer door face. The wire is conveniently disposed in channels 36 formed as parts of the rail and stile extrusions, and is connected to a source of electricity in a manner well known in the art.

As best shown in FIG. 3, a gasket retainer 37 is secured to the pivot stile 18 of each door to define the end face of the hinged door edge, extending substantially the full height thereof. The gasket retainer 37 is secured to the stile in any suitable manner, in the present instance by engagement of its vertical edges in opposed grooves 38 formed in the stile 1 8. A dovetail or otherwise undercut groove 39 is formed in the retainer 37 adjacent the inner face of the stile, for mounting a hollow gasket 40 of suitable resilient material extending for substantially the full height of the door, which has a solid dovetail portion 41 seated in the groove 39. On the free edge of each door is secured a face strip 42 generally similar to the gasket retainer 37, but provided with a gasket-engaging rib or bead 43 instead of the undercut groove 39. This head 43 engages in close sealing relation with the gasket 40 on the hinged edge of the adjacent door in closed position of the doors. The face strip 42 is secured by engagement in opposed grooves 38 on the free edge stile 18, in the same manner as the gasket retainer 37. Each door has a suitable handle 44 secured to the outer face of the free edge stile 18. On the right-hand end frame member 14, there is mounted one of the gasket retainers 37 supporting a gasket 40 for engagement by the rib 43 of the face plate or strip 42 on the free edge of the door 15 at the righthand end of the plurality of doors employed in the construction. The retainer 37 is secured to the vertical frame member 14 by screws or other suitable means, not shown. To the opposite vertical frame member 13 is secured a face plate 42 with its rib 43 disposed for engagement by the gasket 40 on the hinged edge of the door 15 at the left hand end of the plurality of doors. It will be apparent that the gaskets 40 seal all of the joints or gaps between the doors in the door opening, and between the doors and vertical frame members, upon mounting of the doors in the frame structure and their disposition in closed position.

As already stated, the doors are mounted in the door frame 10 on vertical pivotal axes, means for this purpose being provided on the upper and lower horizontal frame members 11 and 12. As best shown in FIG. 2, the horizontal members 11 and 12 are each of generally rightangular cross section, modified by flanges, ribs, and channels. The upper horizontal frame member 11 has a horizontal web 45 and a vertical web 46, and is secured to the upper edge of the door opening as by means of screws 47 extending through the horizontal web 45 into the overlying portion of the partition P. A facing or shim 48 of suitable material is shown as disposed between the web 45 and the adjacent edge of the door opening, to assure a level face at this edge of the opening, and thus a correspondingly true horizontal disposition of the frame member 11. The upper surface of the Web 45 is provided with ribs or beads 49 and 50 defining upwardly and downwardly opening grooves or channels respectively adjacent the inner and outer edges of the web, which space the web 45 from the shim or facing 48. At the outer edge of web 45, there are formed an upwardly extending flange 51 which overlies the face of the partition adjacent the opening, and a similar but downwardly directed flange 52.

The vertical web 46 of the upper frame member 11 has a pair of horizontal ribs or flanges 54 extending inwardly therefrom, below which there is formed a channel 55 of incomplete circular section opening outwardly through a minor portion of its circumference. Below the channel 55, the web 46 is formed with an undercut outwardly opening horizontal groove 56 for the mounting of a magnetic gasket as hereinafter explained. At its lower edge, the vertical web 46 of frame member 11 has an inwardly directed flange 57. A pair of small channels or grooves 58 are provided, one above and one below the channel 55, carrying a resistance or heater wire 59 connected to a source of electricity for preventing deposit of condensation and consequent formation of undesirable frost along the edge of the door opening, by warming the frame, as well known in the refrigeration art.

The lower horizontal frame member 12 includes a horizontal web 60 and a vertical web 61, the horizontal web having a projection 62 adjacent its outer edge and a rib or bead 63 adjacent its juncture with the web 61, which serve as spacing means and to define generally inwardly opening channels. The projection and rib extend downwardly from the horizontal web 60 to rest upon a facing or shim 48 which provides a smooth level surface for the lower edge of the door opening. Suitable screws 64 or like members extend through the web 60 and into the adjacent portion of the partition P to secure the lower member 12 in place. A depending flange 65 at the outer edge of the web 60 overlies the adjacent portion of the partition to provide a trim, attractive appearance.

The vertical web 61 of frame member 12 has a pair of vertically spaced horizontally extending ribs or flanges 66 extending inwardly therefrom, similar to the flanges or ribs 54 of the upper member 11, and terminating in the same vertical plane. At its upper end, the web 61 is provided with an inwardly directed flange 67. The web 61 is also formed with an undercut groove 68 for the mounting of a magnetic gasket as hereinafter explained. The inner ends of the flanges 66 are enlarged and formed with channels or grooves therein similar to channels 53 for housing a heater wire 69 which serves to prevent frost accumulation along the lower edge of the door opening.

Inwardly of each of the upper and lower horizontal frame members 11 and 12, there is provided a protective cover 70 which may be formed of sheet metal or similar material in a generally trough-shaped cross section, with a horizontal flange engaging against the shim 48, a substantially vertical intermediate portion, and a flange or edge portion extending at an angle upwardly to adjacent the flange 57 or 67 of the web 46 or 61 of the respective horizontal frame member. Sheets or strips 71 of suitable heat insulating material are disposed between the vertical portion of each cover 70 and the inner ends of the flanges 54 or 66, to minimize transfer of heat from the respective heating wires 58 and 69 inwardly. Each cover is secured in place as by means of screws 72 extending outwardly through the cover between the flanges 54 or 66 and threadedly engaged with the vertical web 46 or 61, as the case may be.

In each of the end frame members 13 and 14 there are formed a pair of grooves or channels similar to the channels 58, for reception of a heater wire 73. The wire 73 extends in a loop in the two grooves or channels, for substantially the full height of the end frame member, being suitably connected in known manner to a source of electricity. The wires 73, together with the heater wires 59 and 69, provide for warming the frame entirely about the door opening, so that condensation of moisture from the air and consequent frosting are prevented completely around the opening. The wires 59 and 69 normally are employed in a plurality or series each extending in a loop or doubled-back arrangement part way along the length of the frame, and together extending substantially the full length thereof.

The upper pivot for mounting each of the doors 15 comprises an upper pivot pin 75 which is mounted on the upper frame member 11 to depend vertically on the desired pivot axis of the door. The pin 75 is provided with a round section cross head or cross rod 76 by which it may be suspended from a mount generally indicated as 77, best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, which comprises an upper plate 73 having a slot 7 9 therethrough adjacent and parallel to one edge thereof, in which the cross bar 76 is received. The slot may have an enlarged central portion for ease in assembly and disassembly. As evident from the figures, the plate 73 has a thickness at least equal to the diameter of the cross rod 76. A lower plate 80 underlies the plate 78, and has a slot 81 therein receiving the body of the pin 75 therethrough and extending at right angles to and beneath the slot 79 in the plate 78. The pin 75 thus may be swung in the plane of the slot 81, to the extent permitted by the length of the slot, by rocking of the cross bar 76 on the lower mount plate 80 and in the slot 79 of the upper mount plate 78. The upper pivot pin 75 is engaged in the upper bushing 32 in the door, coaxial with the lower pivot pin 21, the lower projecting portion 22 of which is engaged in a suitable aperture, not shown, formed in the web 60 of the lower horizontal frame member 12 directly below the pin 75, that is, on the vertical axis of the intersection of the slots 79 and 81.

6 The mount 77 is secured to the lower surface of the web 45 of the horizontal frame member 11 in any suitable manner, as by screws 82. The top of the door is spaced sufiiciently below the frame member 11, and specifically below the mount 77, to permit vertical movement upward- 1y on the pin 75 such that the projecting portion 22 of the lower pivot pin 21 is moved out of the pivot aperture in the web 60 of the lower member 12. In other words, the top clearance of the door is greater than the projection of the lower portion 22 of the pin 21 through the web 60. It will be evident that this permits the door to be installed in and removed from the door frame structure 10 very quickly and easily. In mounting the door, it is only necessary to swing the pin 75 outwardly to a position such as that indicated in broken lines in FIG. 2, engage it in the bushing 32 of the door, swing the door inwardly with the pin to bring the pivot pin 21 above the pivot aperture in the web 60 of the lower member 12, and lower the door to engage the projecting portion 22 of the lower pin through the aperture, the door then being hinged or pivoted on a vertical axis, as described. Removal of the door is accomplished as simply by reversing the mounting procedure.

The spacing of the top of the door 15 below the web 45 of the upper frame member 11, and the location of the channel 55, are such that the bumper arm 34 is substantially at the level of the center of the channel opening, and the length of the arm 34 is such that it engages in the channel 55 upon opening of the door to a predetermined extent. A snubber abutment or stop is provided which extends into the channel 55 at a point spaced from the bumper arm in the direction in which the arm moves in entering the channel. The stop is conveniently and preferably formed as an integral part of the lower mount plate 80, adjacent the end thereof remote from the slot 81. The plate '80 is provided with an extension at its inner edge bent to provide a depending portion 84 from which a horizontal portion 85 extends inwardly, with an upwardly bent stop portion 86 at the edge of the horizontal portion 85 closer to the slot 31. Disposed in the channel 55 is a shock absorbing member or snubber 87, in this case comprising a tubular sleeve 'of a suitable resilient plastic, provided with end caps 88 of metal or other suitable wear-resisting material having central projections frictionally received in the ends of the sleeve. As best shown in FIG. 5, one end of the snubber engages the stop portion 86, and the other end lies adjacent the point at which the bumper arm 34 enters the channel 55, so that upon swinging of the door to a predetermined open position, the snubber is engaged by the bumper arm and further opening of the door is cushioned by the snubber. The snubber 87 is of somewhat less diameter than the channel 55, so that it may be squeezed through the channel opening, and may expand radially as it is compressed longitudinally. The caps 88 may also be slipped through the opening and assembled with the snubber.

It will be apparent that the door mounting arrangement just described permits location of the door pivot axis at any desired point along the length of the frame members 11 and 12 without requiring any changes in the frame structure or modifications of the pivots or mounting parts. Furthermore, the door checking or snubbing construction in efiect moves in accordance with the location of the door, since the snubber is located anywhere along channel 55 by the stop 86 on the door pivot mount. Accordingly, the number and width of the doors may be chosen without other regard for the door frame structure than that the doors fit within the width or length of the frame. This fredom in design is enhanced by the fact the door frame structure does not require any mullions, or vertical frame members intermediate the end frame members 13 and 14, and the door widths and locations thus need not correspond to the locations of such vertical framing members in order to avoid obstruction thereby. Similarly, the width or length of the door frame structure need not be on any modular basis, but may vary as desired. Thus, the area to which access is provided by the door construction need not be determined in conformity to the requirements of the construction, but the dimensions of the door frame may be selected in accordance with the desired access area.

The undercut grooves or channels 56 and 68 in the vertical webs 46 and 61 of the upper and lower frame members 11 are located so as to lie substantially centrally of the strips 20 of magnetic material carried on the upper and lower door rails 17, to provide for mounting of upper and lower magnetic gaskets generally designated as 89. Each gasket is formed of a resilient plastic or other suitable material, with a hollow expansible or bellows-like portion 90 from one side of which extends a rib with an enlarged bead 91 on its free edge, which engages within the undercut groove 56 or 68. From this side of the expansi'ble portion 90 also extends a web 92 which overlies the vertical web of the frame member and terminates in an inturned portion 94 which engages about the flange 57 or 67. The bead 91 and the portion 93 secure the gasket on the frame member, although other means may of course be employed for this purpose. On the other side of the expansible central portion 90 there is integrally formed a sleeve portion 94 which receives a magnet 95. The magnet 95 is disposed in position to be drawn towards the adjacent plate or strip 20 by reason of its magnetic attraction therefor, and thus to engage the outer face of the sleeve portion 94 against the doors 15. Each gasket 89 extends the full length of the door frame structure, to cooperate with the gaskets 40 in providing a seal about each door in closed position. Effective sealing of the doors is thus provided despite the elimination from the present doorway construction of intermediate vertical frame members against which the doors might engage in sealing relation.

Since the load imposed on the door frame structure by the weight of the doors is practically borne completely by the lower horizontal frame member 12, which is solidly supported on the portion of the partition P defining the lower edge of the door opening, the need for mullions or intermediate vertical frame members is largely eliminated by the construction disclosed. It may be noted that the doors would normally be hinged on the intermediate frame members if they were provided, and thus would impose stresses on the upper frame member tending to cause sagging or other distortion of the frame. To the extent that strenghthening and rigidification of the door frame structure 10 may be deemed desirable, it has been found that light fixtures may be disposed in vertical position connecting the upper and lower frame members to serve as vertical frame elements. It will be appreciated that whereas in the embodiment of the invention in a refrigerated room or walk-in cooler such as disclosed herein, as well as in many other enclosed areas, lighting fixtures must be provided in any event, the use of the fixtures in a vertical position and in appropriate locations does not add to the cost of the construction, and permits the fixtures to substitute for and perform the function of frame elements which might otherwise be required, or at least be desirable.

The swinging door construction accordingly is illustrated as including fluorescent light fixtures generally designated as 97, each comprising a wiring channel 98 or the like disposed vertically and including lamp holders 99 having sockets for receiving the opposite ends of a fluorescent tube or lamp 100. A reflector 101 is suitably mounted extending across the channel 98 and of suitable section to reflect light from the lamp 100 in the direction away from the channel. A lamp guard 102 of wire or the like is also preferably provided in surrounding relation to the lamp or tube 100 to protect it against accidental breakage. Each of the fixtures 97 is of a height to extend from the lower horizontal frame member 12 to the upper member 11, and preferably for the full height of the door opening between the upper and lower edges of the opening defined by the shims or facings 48. The fixtures are disposed with the backs of the channels facing outwardly and engaged against the inner ends of the flanges 54 and 66 of the upper and lower horizontal members, respectively, and are secured to these members as by screws 193 passing between the respective pairs of ribs or flanges 54 and 66 and threaded into the vertical webs 46 and 61, in a manner similar to the screws 72 securing the protective covers 76. The covers 70 are cut away as appropriate to accommodate the channels 98, and the insulating strips or sheets 71 are formed in suitable lengths to extend between adjacent channels 98. A ballast channel or conduit 104 may be mounted adjacent one of the horizontal edges of the door opening, as along the upper edge thereof, through which the several light fixtures are suitably connected to a source of electricity.

It will be appreciated that if desired, only the channels 98 of the light fixtures need extend the full height of the opening, and the lamp holders may be spaced therealong as desired to mount a lamp 100 of less length than the channel 98. It will also be appreciated, of course, that instead of fluorescent light fixtures, other types of lighting fixtures may be employed if desired, so long as they lend themselves to use in a manner similar to that described in connection with the fluorescent fixtures 97. One of the light fixtures is located adjacent each end of the door opening, and other fixtures are located each opposite the vertical joint or gap between the hinged edge of one door and the free edge of the next door. Depending upon the illumination required, the number of light fixtures may be reduced by omitting certain thereof. Again, if all of the fixtures employed for illumination are not required -to serve as vertical frame elements, some of the fixtures may be arranged horizontally along the inner face of the partition P, or elsewhere in the enclosed area. In any event, maximum accessibility to the interior of the space enclosed by the doors 15 is achieved by locating the fixtures 97 as indicated, that is, with those fixtures which are disposed intermediate the end frame members 13 and 14 located adjacent the vertical joints between adjacent doors.

While the invention is disclosed as embodied in a construction employing swinging doors, it may readily be applied to structures with other types of doors, as sliding doors, and of course the advantages of the invention may be realized to less than the full extent possible when it is not desired to employ the construction in full.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention illustrated herein is exemplary of the inventive concept and that the invention is not limited to such embodiment, since modifications and variations thereof, some of which have been described and suggested hereinabove, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A swinging door construction comprising a rectangular door frame structure defined by upper and lower horizontal frame members and vertical end frame members connecting said horizontal members, a plurality of doors swingably mounted in said frame structure each on a vertical pivot axis and arranged side by side, a vertical gasket on at least a first vertical edge of each door engageable in sealing relation with a second vertical edge of an adjacent door, horizontal gasket means sealing between the horizontal frame members and the doors, a plurality of door cushioning means, means for automatically locating one of said cushioning means in predetermined relation to the pivot axis of each door upon location of the door in the frame structure, and means on each door engageable with the adjacent cushioning means upon opening of the door.

2. The door construction as defined in claim 1, including a plurality of light fixtures each extending between and secured to the upper and lower frame members spaced along the frame structure inwardly of the doors,

the free edge of one door extending adjacent the hingededge of an adjacent door with the hinged edge of one of the end doors adjacent one of the end frame members and the free edge of the other end door adjacent the other end frame member, said gasket on said one end door sealingly engaging a first of said end frame members in closed door position, a gasket on the second end frame member sealingly engaging with said second edge of the other end door in closed position, each of said door cushioning means being disposed adjacent the hinged edge of a door, and said means engageable with the cushioning means being disposed adjacent the hinged edge of the door.

3. The door construction as defined in claim 2, including a pair of vertically aligned upper and lower pivot means defining each door pivot axis, each of the doors being vertically moveable for disengagement from the frame structure at one of the pivot means, the other pivot means including means for outward swinging of the door in a vertical plane upon said disengagement, said cushioning means comprising resilient buffer elements, said means for locating a buffer element including abutment means fixed on one of the pair of pivot means of the door for engaging one end of the buffer element, and said means engageable with the buffer element comprising an arm projecting from the door for contacting the other end of the buffer element.

4. The door construction as defined in claim 3, including an aperture in said lower frame member, each of said upper and lower pivot means comprising a pivot pin, the upper pin depending from said upperframe member and the lower pin projecting downwardly from the door for reception in said aperture, means mounting the upper pin in outwardly and upwardly swingable relation to the upper frame member, a vertical recess in the door receiving the upper pin in relatively rotatable relation, each door having vertical clearance thereabove sufiicient to allow upward door movement greater than the downward projection of the lower pin, said first vertical edge of each door comprising the hinged edge and said second vertical edge the free edge thereof, said horizontal gasket means comprising a gasket on each of the horizontal frame members extending substantially the full length thereof for sealing engagement by all of the doors, said light fixtures constituting vertical elements of the frame structure and being arranged to direct light inwardly of the doors, a groove in the upper frame member, one of said resilient buffer elements being disposed in said groove adjacent the hinged edge of each door, said arm being receivable in the groove, and said abutment extending in the groove for effecting compression of the buffer element upon opening of the door sufficiently to swing said arm against said other end of the buffer element.

5. A swinging door construction comprising a door frame structure including horizontal upper and lower frame members, a pair of vertical frame members, a gasket on one of said vertical frame members, a plurality of doors pivotally mounted in said frame structure between said vertical frame members on vertical axes and arranged in edge-to-edge relationship in closed position, a gasket extending along a first vertical edge of each door for substantially the full door height, the second vertical edge of each door engaging the gasket of the adjacent door in closed position except for the end doors of said plurality, the second vertical edge of one end door engaging with the gasket of said one vertical frame member and the gasket of the other end door engaging the other vertical frame member, and horizontal gaskets extending along the horizontal frame members for substantially the full length thereof and sealingly engaged by the doors in closed position.

6. A swinging door construction comprising a door frame structure including horizontal upper and lower frame members, a door removably mounted in said frame structure, upper and lower pivot pins for mounting the door, said lower pin being secured on one of said door and lower frame member, an aperture in the other of said door and lower frame member receiving the lower pin, an upwardly opening recess in the door aligned with the lower pin receiving the upper pivot pin in rotatable relation with the door, vertical clearance above the door sufficient to allow disengagement of the lower pin from said aperture upon upward movement of the door, and means mounting said upper pin on said upper frame member in depending and outwardly swingable relation.

'7. A swinging door construction comprising a door frame structure including a horizontal frame member, a groove in said frame member extending substantially the full length thereof, a fixed abutment in said groove, a door pivoted in said door frame structure on a single vertical axis adjacent said abutment, an arm on said door swingable in the groove toward the abutment in opening movement of the door, and a resilient buffer element disposed in the groove for compression between the abutment and said arm upon opening of the door.

8. A door construction substantially as defined in claim 7, including a pivot mount for the door securable on the frame structure in accordance with the location of said vertical door pivot axis, and in which said abutment is fixed on said pivot mount for disposition thereby in predetermined relation to the door in any door pivot axis location.

9. A swinging door construction comprising a door frame structure including a horizontal frame member, a door pivoted in said door frame structure on a single vertical axis, means for cushioning opening movement of said door, means for supporting the cushioning means at any point along said frame member, door mounting means disposeable on the frame structure in accordance with the location of said door pivot axis, means carried by said mounting means for locating the cushioning means in predetermined relation to the door pivot axis, and means on the door engaging with the cushioning means to cushion door movement upon opening of the door.

10. A door construction comprising a door frame structure including horizontal upper and lower frame members and a pair of vertical frame members connecting said upper and lower frame members and disposed in spaced relation with no other vertical members therebetween, a plurality of doors mounted in said frame structure between said vertical members, and at least one light fixture extending between the upper and lower frame members intermediate the pair of vertical members and constituting a vertical frame element of the door frame structure auxiliary to the vertical members.

11. A door construction substantially as defined in claim 10, in which each fixture is located adjacent an edge of a door and spaced inwardly out of engagement therewith.

12. A door construction as defined in claim 10, in which said doors are hingedly mounted in said frame structure each on a vertical axis.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,099,415 6/1914 Winslow 49-384 2,537,525 1/1951 Grindstafi' et al. 240-6 2,637,877 5/1953 Hanssen 49-386 2,987,782 6/1961 Kurowski 49-386 3,102,582 9/1963 Rudnick -118 3,131,421 5/1964 Kurowski 16-82 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner. KENNETH DOWNEY, Examiner. 

1. A SWINGING DOOR CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR DOOR FRAME STRUCTURE DEFINED BY UPPER AND LOWER HORIZONTAL FRAME MEMBERS AND VERTICAL END FRAME MEMBERS CONNECTING SAID HORIZONTAL MEMBERS, A PLURALITY OF DOORS SWINGABLY MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME STRUCTURE EACH ON A VERTICAL PIVOT AXIS AND ARRANGED SIDE BY SIDE, A VERTICAL GASKET ON AT LEAST A FIRST VERTICAL EDGE OF EACH DOOR ENGAGEABLE IN SEALING RELATION WITH A SECOND VERTICAL EDGE OF AN ADJACENT DOOR, HORIZONTAL GASKET MEANS SEALING BETWEEN THE HORIZONTAL FRAME MEMBERS AND THE DOORS, A PLURALITY OF DOOR CUSHIONING MEANS, MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCATING ONE OF SAID CUSHIONING MEANS IN PREDETERMINED RELATION TO THE PIVOT AXIS OF EACH DOOR UPON LOCATION OF THE DOOR IN THE FRAME STRUCTURE, AND MEANS ON EACH DOOR ENGAGEABLE WITH THE ADJACENT CUSHIONING MEANS UPON OPENING OF THE DOOR. 